Director of Annual Giving and Foundation Relations in Sherman Oaks, California at American Jewish University

Job Title: Director of Annual Giving & Foundation Relations

Salary Range: $100,000 to $120,000

Department: Advancement
Reports To: Vice President for Advancement
Location: 4 days/week in person (Sherman Oaks), Friday remote
Status: Exempt

Hours: 35 hours/week

About American Jewish University

American Jewish University (AJU)’s mission is singularly focused on the future of Jewish life in North America—training and educating the next generation of rabbis, educators, professionals, and lay leaders, and creating innovative, dynamic pathways for Jewish learning and living. With campuses in Sherman Oaks, Beverly Hills, and Simi Valley, CA, along with distance education programs that reach learners across the nation and around the world, AJU is a private, nonprofit institution of higher education offering degree-granting and for-credit academic programs, as well as community-based (non-formal academic) learning opportunities.

Director of Annual Giving & Foundation Relations

Position Summary

American Jewish University (AJU) seeks a Director of Annual Giving & Foundation Relations to help strengthen and expand AJU’s philanthropic support. Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, this position plays a critical role in creating and executing comprehensive engagement strategies that increase the number of annual donor gifts, donor retention, and long-term loyalty to AJU. The Director will lead multi-channel annual fundraising initiatives, manage a portfolio of individual and institutional donors, cultivate relationships with foundations inclusive of proposal writing and grant reports, oversee donor stewardship and gift acknowledgment processes, and collaborate across the Advancement team to support fundraising events and other initiatives. The ideal candidate is an exceptional communicator, highly organized and enjoys both planning and hands-on execution.

Primary Responsibilities

Annual Giving & Multi-Channel Fundraising

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual giving strategy.
• Plan and execute integrated fundraising campaigns across multiple channels, including Direct mail, Email, Digital and Social Media.
• Create annual fundraising calendars and appeal timelines.
• Collaborate with internal Communications team to develop compelling donor messaging and fundraising content.
• Analyze campaign performance and recommend strategies to improve donor acquisition, response rates, average gift size, and return on investment.
• Build out new donor welcome strategies to foster ongoing support.
• Design strategies to recover and re-engage lapsed donors, and increase donor retention.
• Increase participation and revenue from recurring/monthly donors.
• Create donor segmentation strategies based on giving history, interests, and engagement.
• Develop meaningful stewardship communications throughout the donor lifecycle.
• Ensure donors receive timely, personalized, and impactful acknowledgments and recognition.
• Analyze donor data to identify trends and opportunities for increased engagement.
• Recommend strategies to strengthen donor pipeline development and long-term fundraising growth.

Portfolio Management

• Develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies for a portfolio of approximately 50–75 mid-level donors and prospects
• Conduct donor discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Prepare donor briefings, proposals, solicitation materials, and follow-up correspondence.
• Maintain accurate records of donor interactions and next steps within the CRM.

Foundation Relations & Grant Management

• Write compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, supporting materials and grant reports.
• Research and identify prospective foundation funding opportunities aligned with institutional priorities.
• Lead grant submissions process and ensure timely completion of application requirements.
• Prepare accurate and compelling grant reports demonstrating measurable outcomes and impact.
• Develop and maintain relationships with foundation program officers.
• Maintain grant calendars and reporting schedules.
• Collaborate with faculty and program leaders to collect information needed for proposals and reports.
• Track proposal outcomes and foundation stewardship activities.

Other Key Duties

• Partner closely with the Vice President for Advancement on strategic initiatives and special projects as needed.

Qualifications & Desired Attributes

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 5-7 years of progressive fundraising or nonprofit development experience.
• Demonstrated success managing annual giving programs and donor engagement initiatives.
• Proven experience managing a portfolio of individual donors.
• Strong grant writing experience with a track record of securing foundation funding.
• Knowledgeable on fundraising trends, philanthropic best practices, and emerging donor engagement strategies.
• High-level organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Background working with digital fundraising platforms and email marketing systems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Exceptional project management and organizational abilities.
• Strong analytical skills and experience using fundraising data to inform strategy.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with donors, volunteers, community leaders, and colleagues.
• Resourceful, collaborative, and solutions-oriented.
• Flexibility to support evolving organizational priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Expertise in working with donor database/CRM systems.
• Knowledge of and experience working within the Jewish community, Jewish nonprofit sector, or Jewish philanthropic landscape strongly preferred.

Compensation

• This is a full-time, exempt position with a salary range of $100,000 to $120,000 annually, commensurate with experience, qualifications, and demonstrated track record.
• American Jewish University offers a comprehensive benefits package, which may include health, dental, and vision insurance; retirement plan participation; paid time off; and other employee benefits.
• Total compensation is designed to be competitive with peer institutions and reflective of the scope, complexity, and strategic impact of the role.